20 Tips To Make You A Better Deer Hunter

September 11, 2014

Whether you’re a veteran buck hunter or a newbie heading to the woods for the first time, the tips below can help you see more success this season.

Tip 1 Human odor spooks deer. Shower with a scent-free soap before every hunting trip, and try not to contaminate your hunting clothes on the way to the field. Keep them sealed in a plastic container or bag with leaves, dirt and other ground debris from around your stand until you arrive at your hunting location. Doing so will allow your hunting clothing to take on the naturally occurring scents that permeate your hunting location.

Tip 2Most hunters think that doe estrous is the be-all and end-all of big buck attraction. Though estrous is a wonderful tool, it’s simply that. Wise hunters know that during the early-season it’s important to take advantage of a buck’s territorial instincts. The scent of an estrous doe during early October simply doesn’t make sense to a buck, but buck scent is always worth checking out.

Tip 3During the peak-rut, try a drag rag soaked in doe estrous. Often a buck will follow the trail right to your stand.

Tip 4 Many hunters spray down with odor eliminator just after suiting up, and prior to the trek into the stand, but experienced hunters will bring an odor eliminator with them to the tree stand. After the walk to the stand, apply an odor eliminator to your body, paying special attention to your hat and hair.

Tip 5When muzzleloader hunting in wet weather, a piece of electrical tape over the end of the barrel will keep out moisture. You simply shoot through the tape when it’s time to harvest that buck.

Tip 6One of the deadliest scent set-ups defies the accepted rule of playing the wind. Locate a long strip of timber or cover with the wind blowing along the length of it (blowing from one end to the other). At the windy end, pour some deer scent at several areas, then set up high in a tree stand just on the edge of the timber. If you’re set up high enough, your human odor should flow above the deer.

Tip 7Practice setting up and taking down your tree stand before the season, and do so low on the tree. Getting into and out of your spot as quietly as possible is key to having a look at a good buck.

Tip 8You don’t have to own your own plane, or even by an airline ticket, to check out aerial photos of your hunting area, and there are no better scouting aids than aerial photos. Just search Google Maps for your hunting area.

Tip 9 Avoid trimming shooting lanes and otherwise disturbing your hunting area during the season. The time to clear shooting lanes is during summer. Wise old bucks can become conditioned to the smell of freshly cut timber, and begin to associate it with human predation.

Tip 10 If some concealment is good, then maximum concealment is better. Tree stand blinds help to fool the wary eye of a deer, and provide the added benefit of shelter from harsh winds.

Tip 11 You’ve got a buck on adjacent land patterned, but it doesn’t cross over to your hunting area until after shooting time is over. What to do? Try tempting the buck to come over to your side with a deer decoy or by calling.

Tip 12 Be sure to douse yourself with tick repellant when scouting during summer and early fall. Tick-borne diseases can shut down your hunting season, and you don’t want it to be over before it’s begun!

Tip 13Don’t underestimate the importance of being able to get to your tree stand undetected, and don’t think that going in under the cover of darkness will help. Make sure to use a creek or curtain of forest to cover your entry.

Tip 14Wash all hunting clothes in a non-scented detergent each time you’re heading to the woods. Keep them in a plastic bag until arriving at your hunting area.

Tip 15Try making a mock scrape. First, put on surgical gloves to prevent human odor contamination. Using a stick, scuff the leaves off of an area about the size of a hubcap.

Tip 16 During the late season, scout for reopened scrapes in deep cover. Surviving bucks are reluctant to get in the open country, but still look for the last hot does in cover.

Tip 17 When there’s snow on the ground, look for leaves strewn across an area where deer have pawed for mast. If there’s still some mast around, that might be a good spot to set up and wait for the deer’s return.

Tip 19 You’ve taken the shot, now what? If you find brown hair and pink or red blood with bubbles in it, most likely you got a heart or lung hit. Brown hair and thick, dark-red blood indicates a hit too far back, possibly a liver shot. White hair and watery blood with stomach matter indicate a bad hit.

Tip 20Most falls from the tree stand happen while climbing into or out of the stand. That’s why it’s important to always wear a full-body safety harness when hunting from a tree stand.